Record low of U.S. adults are married, group finds
(Reuters) - A record low of 51 percent of U.S. adults are married, and Americans are waiting longer than ever to tie the knot, the Pew Research Center said on Wednesday.
The Washington-based Pew Research Center based its findings on an analysis of U.S. Census data for 2010.
The Pew Center's study also found the number of new marriages in the United States dropped 5 percent between 2009 and 2010, and the group said the slow economy could have contributed to that.
By comparison to the current record low of 51 percent of U.S. adults in married relationships, 72 percent were in wedded unions in 1960, the Pew Center said.
The Pew Center also found that the median age at first marriage for brides stands at 26.5 years and for grooms it is 28.7 years. That is the oldest Americans have ever been when first saying their vows.
Researchers noted the United States is not alone in seeing marriage rates fall, and that other advanced, post-industrial societies are seeing the same long-term declines.
The Pew Center said in its report on marriage rates that it is "beyond the scope" of the group's analysis to "explain why marriage has declined."
(Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis: Editing by Jerry Norton)
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Also, sexual relations outside of marriage were (once upon a time) frowned upon. The word “bastard” designated to a male born out of wedlock clearly showed that.
No one feels any shame over anything anymore because “shame” is a bad thing…right?
Also gay marriage has diminished (whether you want to believe it or not) the whole concept of marriage, simply because the one defining characteristic of this “contract” (spiritual or otherwise) was that the parties involved had to be of opposite sexes.
With that requirement gone, marriage now has all the charm, appeal and distinction of say…applying for a driver’s license.
I don’t know about all that. I know several couples both gay and straight that have a deep spiritual bond and care for each other more than going to the department of licensing, And “shame” is a bad thing which is why I applaud any efforts to eliminate the shame associated with things one is not responsible for or able to stop.
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